Harmison Finds New Appetite to Check on Fitness for Test Series

Steve Harmison practiced in the nets in Potchefstroom, near Johannesburg, yesterday in a bid to prove his fitness to play in today's match between the Highveld Lions and Dolphins. He had spent the previous day in bed with food poisoning but felt well enough yesterday to work with England's bowling coach, Ottis Gibson.

In the first of his two matches in South Africa, Harmison took nine wickets against Cape Cobras at Paarl. There were the usual wides and no-balls, but his outing, on a slow pitch, was considered a success.

He should find the surface at Sedgars Park more to his liking and after the match his form and fitness will be assessed by the selectors, who are hoping he will join the England squad in Sri Lanka next week. Harmison missed the last three months of last season after a hernia operation.

Lancashire's new captain, Stuart Law, says he will turn into captain grumpy as he looks to steer the county to the championship. They have not won the title outright since 1934 and the Queen slander intends to adopt a different approach to his predecessor, Mark Chilton.

"Mark Chilton was very level-headed and in the past I've been a bit hot-headed," said Law. "Unfortunately for the guys I demand perfection or as near to perfection as we can reach. If someone's not pulling their weight I'll sit them down and explain to them why I'm unhappy."

Law will get an immediate opportunity to erase the memories of last season's championship misery when they open the new season at Surrey. Lancashire's failure to win at The Oval on the final day handed the crown back to Sussex.

They return to Kennington in their first Division One match, whereas Sussex, after their traditional seasonal opener against the MCC at Lord's, begin their domestic campaign with a trip to face Hampshire.

Also in the top section the newly promoted Nottingham shire play Kent, but Durham have to wait a week to get their campaign under way when they host Surrey. By then Durham will have set out to defend the Friends Provident Trophy title - in a revamped competition - starting on Sunday, April 20. The new format will feature zonal groups, reminiscent of the old Benson and Hedges Cup. It comprises home and away fixtures for four sets of five teams - including Scotland and Ireland - with the top two in each table qualifying for quarter-finals. Durham start at home to Yorkshire.